Super Eagles power rankings 2026

Several Super Eagles stars and hopefuls fired reminders of their quality and consistency in various leagues across Europe and beyond on the weekend of October 9 to 11, 2026.

Friday Etim delivered a goal and an assist in Denmark, Kelechi Iheanacho continued his extraordinary scoring run in Turkey, while Chibuike Nwaiwu combined a goal with defensive authority in Trabzonspor’s victory.

Victor Osimhen, meanwhile, added another assist to an already impressive league campaign.

Super Eagles power rankings

10. Bright Osayi-Samuel: Man of the match display

West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Birmingham City | October 10

Osayi-Samuel helped Birmingham City secure a valuable away victory, completing 90 minutes at right-back as the visitors defeated West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in the Championship.

The Super Eagles defender contributed two tackles, one interception and one clearance. His work helped Birmingham protect their advantage in a contest where a single goal separated the teams.

The result adds to a season where Osayi-Samuel has been a consistent contributor for the Blues. He had started Birmingham’s opening eight Championship fixtures, accumulating 648 minutes.

9. Philip Azango: A productive campaign gets another boost

Podbrezová 1-3 Spartak Trnava | October 11

Azango helped Spartak Trnava secure a convincing away victory, scoring the third goal in a 3-1 win over Podbrezová.

The Nigerian winger’s finish came in the 72nd minute, when he cut inside and curled the ball into the far corner. It gave Trnava a three-goal cushion after Timotej Kudlička had scored twice in the first half. Martin Chrien pulled one back late for the hosts, but the visitors had already established control.

Azango has earlier contributed two league goals and one assist before the Podbrezová fixture, with seven appearances and 274 minutes played. His limited minutes make that attacking return particularly encouraging.

8. Rafiu Durosinmi: Six league goals and counting

Genk 3-0 Kortrijk | October 10

Durosinmi continued his productive start to the Belgian campaign by scoring in Genk’s 3-0 victory over Kortrijk.

The Nigerian striker played 75 minutes and registered three shots on target from three attempts. His accuracy helped Genk turn its attacking pressure into a comfortable victory. The 2026 Unity Cup star’s willingness to keep testing the goalkeeper gave the hosts a consistent threat in the final third.

The goal took Durosinmi to six league strikes in eight appearances, having played 587 minutes in the Pro League. He has also scored against Zulte Waregem, Westerlo, Antwerp, Beveren and Gent this season.

That return puts him among the more productive Nigerian forwards in Europe so far this season.

7. Tolu Arokodare: Ajax’s early spark amid a frustrating draw

Ajax 1-1 NEC Nijmegen | October 10

Arokodare gave Ajax an early advantage, and praised Osimhen after, at the Johan Cruyff ArenA, heading home in the seventh minute after Jorthy Mokio supplied the cross.

The Super Eagles forward rose above his marker and directed the ball beyond NEC goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz. It was a forceful finish that rewarded his movement in the penalty area and immediately put Ajax on the front foot.

NEC equalised through Tjaronn Chery’s 19th-minute penalty after Mokio fouled Noé Lebreton. Ajax created further opportunities but could not find a winner, and Arokodare was substituted in the 73rd minute.

In a bright start to his Ajax career, Arokodare has now managed four Eredivisie goals and one assist from seven league appearances. The Wolves loanee has also registered three goals and one assist in three European competition appearances.

However, the NEC draw prevented his latest strike from delivering three points, keeping him below players who influenced more decisive victories over the weekend.

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6. Victor Osimhen: Another assist in a prolific Galatasaray campaign

Galatasaray 3-1 Kasımpaşa | October 9

Osimhen’s contribution against Kasımpaşa was brief but important.

Introduced for the closing stages, he assisted Mario Lemina’s goal in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Galatasaray completed a 3-1 victory.

The Super Eagles striker had only 14 minutes on the pitch, yet he still helped create the final goal.

Barış Alper Yılmaz had restored Galatasaray’s lead in the 90th minute after Jesurun Rak-Sakyi equalised for Kasımpaşa, leaving the home side needing one more contribution to settle the contest.

Osimhen’s season as a whole has been exceptional, with six league goals and three assists in five appearances, from 316 minutes played. That works out at nine direct goal contributions, or approximately one every 35 minutes.

5. Terem Moffi: First Bundesliga goal helps turn the tide

Hoffenheim 2-3 Hamburg | October 10

Moffi supplied a crucial equaliser as Hamburg came from behind to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 away from home.

Hamburg trailed 2-1 after Bambasé Conté scored in the 53rd minute. Hoffenheim’s position became more difficult when Bernardo was sent off in the 65th minute, but Hamburg still needed a breakthrough to make its numerical advantage count.

Moffi provided it in the 83rd minute, meeting Miro Muheim’s cross with a header into the far corner. Muheim then scored the stoppage-time winner, completing a comeback that gave Hamburg a valuable away victory.

The goal was especially important because it was Moffi’s first Bundesliga strike of the campaign.

The Super Eagles striker had featured in five league matches, including the 15-minute appearance against Hoffenheim, after previously playing against Borussia Dortmund, Mainz, RB Leipzig and Köln.

The former OGC Nice star will hope his maiden Bundesliga goal will open the floods for the rest of the campaign.

4. Chibuike Nwaiwu: A defender making his presence felt at both ends

Samsunspor 0-3 Trabzonspor | October 10

Nwaiwu delivered one of the weekend’s most complete performances, scoring as Trabzonspor beat Samsunspor 3-0 away from home.

The Super Eagles centre-back found the net in the 38th minute, with his strike doubling Trabzonspor’s lead and helping the visitors establish control before the interval.

Nwaiwu also completed 90 minutes and recorded four interceptions. Trabzonspor kept a clean sheet, giving the former Enyimba man a strong defensive result to accompany his goal.

A goal, a clean sheet and a team-high rating of 9.0 from Soccerway make this one of Nwaiwu’s strongest performances of the season.

3. Paul Mukairu: Two goal contributions strengthen his case

Pogoń Szczecin 2-0 Korona Kielce | October 11

Mukairu produced a decisive attacking display as Pogoń Szczecin beat Korona Kielce 2-0, contributing to both goals.

The Nigerian helped create the opener for Maciej Wojciechowski in first-half stoppage time before scoring himself in the 86th minute. His goal secured the victory and ensured Pogoń finished the match with a comfortable two-goal advantage.

The result was Pogoń’s third consecutive league victory, following earlier wins over Wieczysta and Piast.

2. Kelechi Iheanacho: Twelve league goals boosts a remarkable start

Bursaspor 1-2 Mardin 1969 Spor | October 11

Iheanacho scored again for Bursaspor, but his late effort could not prevent a 2-1 defeat against Mardin 1969 Spor.

Bursaspor fell behind to Tonio Teklic’s 21st-minute strike. Iheanacho then found the net in the 81st minute, giving the hosts hope of rescuing a point. However, Zdravko Dimitrov struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to secure victory for the visitors.

The defeat did little to diminish the significance of Iheanacho’s individual season.

The former Celtic man has scored an incredible 12 goals and added two assists in nine Turkish 1. Lig appearances. He has scored in every single match he played for Bursaspor since joining on a free transfer this summer. L

Iheanacho also scored for Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the 3-3 international friendly draw against Russia on October 6.

His goal against Mardin extended his scoring run, even though it did not produce a positive result.

He, however, misses the top spot on this power rankings.

1. Friday Etim: Goal and assist lead Midtjylland to a major victory

FC Midtjylland 2-1 FC Copenhagen | October 11

Friday Etim takes first place after producing a goal and an assist in Midtjylland’s 2-1 victory over Copenhagen.

The 24-year-old Nigerian forward opened the scoring in the 12th minute, meeting Philip Billing’s free-kick with a header that gave Midtjylland an early advantage.

Copenhagen equalised through Mohamed Elyounoussi’s penalty in the 49th minute, but Etim helped restore the hosts’ lead by assisting Denil Castillo’s winner in the 61st minute.

Midtjylland held on to secure three points in a major Danish Superliga encounter. Their efficiency was particularly impressive because they finished with only 35 per cent possession, making Etim’s direct involvement in both goals even more valuable.

Etim has now registered five goals and three assists in ten league appearances this season, with his latest display helping Midtjylland cut the deficit to league leaders Copenhagen to two points.